MCC – Joy Metropolitan Community Church Presents Guest Speaker As Seen On Good Morning America

Author Loren A. Olson, MD will discuss “Finally Out: Letting Go of Living Straight, a Psychiatrist’s Own Story” followed by a book signing and Refreshments on Thursday, February 21, 2013, 7:00pm at Joy Metropolitan Community Church 2351 S. Ferncreek Ave., Orlando , Florida…

Joy MCC presents Guest Speaker as seen on Good Morning America

Author Loren A. Olson, MD will discuss “Finally Out: Letting Go of Living Straight, a Psychiatrist’s Own Story” followed by a book signing and Refreshments on Thursday, February 21, 2013, 7:00pm at Joy Metropolitan Community Church 2351 S. Ferncreek Ave., Orlando , Florida.

Growing up in the Iowa farm belt, Dr. Loren Olson always thought of himself as “heterosexual, with a little quirk.”

He wondered why he had to work so hard at masculinity and attributed his feelings of being a “man-imposter” to the death of his father in a tractor accident when he was three.

Olson went on to have a satisfying 18-year marriage and two daughters but, inside, he always knew something wasn’t quite right. He describes “always editing my behavior and thoughts.” But long after many men acknowledge their sexual orientation, he came out after the age of 40.

In his new book, “Finally Out: Letting Go of Living Straight,” Olson, now 68 and a semi-retired psychiatrist, examines the lives of closeted gay men, many of whom have sex with other men but deny they are homosexual.

“These men lead hidden lives and that’s a very lonely place to be,” he said. “They feel like they are one secret away from losing everything they love.” Olson describes it as “a kind of sexual purgatory”.

“My sexual attraction, behavior and sex identity are all in alignment,” Olson said. “Many men struggle to line these three things up in a way that gives them peace and comfort.”

According to Judy Evans, a spokeswoman for the group Service and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE), those who come out in middle age face other barriers such as financial insecurity, social isolation and being childless or estranged from their families.

Dr. Olson and his partner of over 20 years were married at Plymouth Church in Des Moines, Iowa, on September 26, 2009. Dr. Olson and his husband, Doug Mortimer, live on a farm in Madison County Iowa — near one of the Bridges of Madison County — where they raise Belted Galloway cattle.

Prime Timers of Central Florida is sponsoring Dr. Olson’s visit to Orlando. Prime Timers of Central Florida mission is to promote a social climate that affirms and supports the adult gay, transgender, bisexual men and their friends. Offering a variety of social, cultural, educational and recreational activities intended to cultivate positive relationships, and personal growth that fortifies that we are “Caring and Aging with Dignity and Pride” For more information on Prime Timers visit http://www.primetimersww.com/

For information regarding this presentation, please contact Joy MCC at (407) 894-1081 or at joymcc@joymcc.com“>joymcc@joymcc.com This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.